About us

Retreat to the enchanted countryside near Montreal, Quebec to join a women’s circle at the beautifully intimate Centre de Vie in Ripon. Practice yoga in a spectacularly renovated French country barn temple. Gather each evening by fire and candlelight as we share stories of the mythical goddesses. Take a writing journey to deeper reveal the many faces of our feminine nature. Indulge in home-prepared fresh vegetarian meals, wander through the countryside, and dip in the lake. We will bring the themes of the Divine Feminine to the here and now. You are invited to reconnect to the sacred energies within you.

Together, we will reclaim the tradition of sharing mythical stories to ignite the light of feminine intuition. Each sacred story provides a lens through which we can perceive and reconnect to the multiple aspects of our own feminine nature. The stories reveal essential insights into honoring our unique power as women. We will gather our scattered pieces, celebrate our contradictions, validate our unique yearnings and claim our wholeness.

Enjoy the atmospheric beauty of the Outaouais region of Québec in springtime as we gather to reignite the sharing of stories among women.

In the heart of the Petite Nation, in the beautiful Outaouais region, Centre de Vie offers a gorgeous French Canadian country style retreat setting, less than two hours away from Montreal. The Petite Nation is known for its sparkling rivers, green and lush hillsides, glowing fields and refreshing lakes. At the valley’s center, Centre de Vie is located on 216 acres of beautiful countryside lined with walking trails, providing the space to disconnect and reconnect with yourself and nature. Centre de Vie offers inviting shared spaces, comfortable rooms (private, double, triple) with cozy beds, inspiring horizon views, dipping pond, dry sauna, therapy center, nature trails and delicious home-prepared vegetarian meals.

The retreat center combines the intimacy of a country home setting with the spaciousness of a nature retreat. At the “Center of Life”, you will feel very well taken care of and most certainly, charmed.

Our primary gathering space for sacred circle and yoga will be the spectacular, light-filled temple in the newly refurbished interior of the old style barn. The sun will pour in as we practice morning and yoga meditation, and the dusk will bring atmosphere to our afternoon gathering. The outdoor deck provides further space for gathering when the shade is sufficient. In the evening, we will gather by fire and perhaps candlelight, depending upon the mood that calls to our circle. Mats, props, and cushions will be provided.

Retreat guests will stay in beautifully decorated and uniquely designed rooms and can choose either shared accommodation (double/triple) or private upgrade. Expect unique rooms, cozy pillows, comfortable duvets, warm bedside lighting, and steamy showers. Please note the bathrooms are shared. Centre de Vie has a bright spacious modern kitchen and dining area. The retreat center has two shared lounge spaces, one with a fireplace, as well as a large sun terrace.

SAMPLE DAILY FLOW

Guests may arrive to Centre de Vie on Thursday, May 3rd (check in is 4pm) to relax and settle in. After dinner, we will open our circle.

Our daily flow will begin on Friday, May 4th.

Thurs, May 3rd:

4:00 pm Check-In

6:30- 7:30 pm Dinner

7:45 pm - Opening Circle & Storytelling Circle

May 4th - May 7th (Sample Flow):

7:00 - 8:30 am: Medi & Yoga

8:30 - 9:30 am: Breakfast

10:00 am - 12:30 pm: Exploratory Circle

12:30 - 3:30 pm: Lunch & Break

3:30 - 6:30 pm: Exploratory Circle

6:30 - 7:30 pm: Dinner

7:45 pm: Storytelling Circle

Tues, May 8th:

7:00 am - 8:30am: Medi & Yoga

8:30 - 9:30am: Breakfast

9:30am - 10:00am: Final Closing

10:00 - 12:30: Optional Relaxation

12:30-1:30 pm: Final Lunch/Lunch to Go

We will finish by 10am on Tuesday, May 8th, and you have the option to linger and enjoy the beauty of Centre de Vie as well as lunch.

Please see Your Stay at Centre de Vie for advice on booking travel.

Delicious meals are vegetarian and served in the outdoor kitchen. Coffee, tea and snacks are available at all times.

On-site therapies are available during break times, as well as many opportunities to relax or walk or bike in nature and explore the enchanting beauty of this very special place. You might feel like taking a sauna or visiting the resident donkeys.

FOOD AND DINING

All delicious meals will be vegetarian, varied and generous in portions. Our meals are prepared with big love by Hélène and Michael, the resident owners of Centre de Vie. If you require a vegan/gluten free option or require separate meals due to allergies, this is available at $10/day extra. Our first included meal will be dinner on May 3rd. Our final meal will be lunch on May 8th. Coffee, tea and snacks are available throughout the day. The kitchen also offers a small refrigerator for guest use.

ACTIVITIES

In this retreat, you will connect with your body through meditation, yoga and movement. You will gather by candlelight to listen to mythical stories of the Divine Feminine as keys into exploring the many faces of our femininity. You will circle for self-exploratory writing inspired by the rich themes for women stirred up by the stories. Writing serves as a channel to reveal insight, allow vulnerability and bring forth what is calling to be heard from within you. We may engage in other dynamic exercises to open and explore these energies. As women, we are reclaiming our mythology. The stories are keys that unlock personal doors and reveal the universal influences of our unique feminine nature. As we explore the stories of the goddesses and the feminine energies they represent, you are invited to reawaken to the sacred energies within you, to feel them rise and reclaim them as yours.

Connect to your body through yoga: With daily guided meditation and yoga, you will listen in to the innate guidance that is found in your body and breath. The body holds the truth of our physical and sensual experience, and is the home of our deepest intuitions. Our breath is our way back home. As we practice listening to the guidance of our body, and honor and heed its wisdom, our intuition expands. We journey into more alignment with our inner knowing.

Invoke the power of the sacred story:

Oral storytelling ignites the light of feminine intuition and understanding. This is a beautiful act of receiving in the wisdom tradition between women, a passing of the ember. Each evening, we will listen to stories of the Divine Feminine as represented by mythical goddess stories. We will use their story to connect with the different faces of the feminine within ourselves. Each goddess symbolizes energies and feminine archetypes that are alive within each of us.As an example, the Goddess Demeter opens our awareness of the rhythms of cycles and letting go. Her story brings us in touch with a more feminine experience of time. The diversity of goddesses allows us to remember and re-invite the richness of aspects of our own feminine energy. Each sacred story provides a lens through which we can encounter more of our own feminine nature, gaining insight into what is alive within us, and also what we have lost or forsaken or forgotten. The stories reveal essential insights into preserving and honoring our power as women. The power of story brings us back to ourselves and to each other, again and again.

Open and explore through raw expression:

As we move through the stories of the goddesses, we will embody and explore the energies they represent for us, allowing them to inspire our writing and sharing circle. Whether it be honoring our own cycles, realizing the fertile power of letting go, harnessing our creative vision, or guarding over our own sacred fire, the stories provide us with rich and layered themes to unfold and explore in our lives. We will bring in dynamic self-exploratory writing exercises to unlock deep personal truth and insights. We may also call in movement or other channels of exploration.

We renew our wise and wild feminine energy when we heed the call to gather, and when we honor this moment - this here, this now - as our sacred space. We will bring in ritual and beauty. Through sharing our stories, we hold the mirror of compassion for each other. In this reflection, we witness and embrace more of who we all are. As co-facilitator Melanie says, “May we let the stories move through us and let them whisper in the vulnerability of our hearts the treasures we long to recollect. “

Take in nature & rejuvenate:

Centre De Vie holds an enchanting atmosphere, and is perched in the midst of beautiful countryside. Wander about via walking trails or bicycle. Enjoy the beauty from one of the comfortable lounges or the sundeck. Rotate between the dry sauna and the dipping lake. Treat yourself. The in-house therapy center offers healing consultations and treatments such as massage, energy harmonization, naturopathy, iridology, and cupping therapy. Prices ranges from $40-$90 USD.

Nearby:

Within five minutes of Centre de Vie, you can find the organic farm The Fruits of The Earth, the organic veggie farm La Défriche, and local organic winery Domaine Des Meteores. Each of these family-run properties boasts gorgeous farm buildings in vibrant and sweet country setting. The Outaouais (pronounced Ooh-taa-way) region is blessed with hiking, hillside panoramas, culinary treats, museums, unique lodging, an incredible spa, adventure opportunities, and tucked away tourist gems. If you have or hire transport and can spend some extra time in the region, it could make for a beautiful wander.

GETTING HERE & AWAY:

The Centre De Vie retreat center is located in Ripon, in the heart of nature, just 1 hour and 45 minutes from Montreal.

Flying In:

The closest airport is Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Montréal–Trudeau.

The airport is less than two hours away from Ripon, without traffic. Depending on the number of participants requiring transport, we will help to arrange the most economical ground transport option for shared transport - eg. shuttle, taxi, shared rental car.

The cost may range from $50 - $75 USD for transport each way, depending on how many are wishing to share.

Timing of Arrival Flights:

To take part in shared transportation, we suggest to book your flight to arrive between 10am and 1pm, and be willing to wait for others arrival if on the earlier side of that range. Alternatively, you can arrive the night before and be picked up from a Montreal hotel.

Timing of Departure Flights:

To take part in shared transportation, we suggest to book your flight at 4pm or later, which would mean taking off from the center around 10.30-11.00am to give lots of time.

If you wish to linger and enjoy the final half-day to soak up the surroundings, we suggest to book your flight at 7pm or later, which would mean taking off after lunch around 1.30-2.00pm.

By Car:

Please see the address for the GPS location. If you plan to drive, we can provide additional directions for arriving to Centro De Vie. The cost estimate to rent a car by yourself for the week is $340 CAD from the airport with unlimited kilometers.

About the
Venue and Teachers

An ideal place for your workshops, seminars and retreats
CENTRE DE VIE is a place that promotes a healthy body and mind. Our joy is to be able to offer a quality service fully tailored to your needs. Surrounded by nature, CENTRE DE VIE offers 108 acres of land, SPA, walking trails, a small lake with quality accommodation, rest rooms with fireplace and tasty vegetarian meals.
GROUP PACKAGE:
Rates (price per person including lodging and meals):
.$195: Full weekend, arrival Friday PM until Sunday PM (2 nights and 5 meals). Free week end for the teacher.
PERSONAL RETREAT:
.275$: Full weekend, arrival Friday PM until Sunday PM (2 nights and 5 meals).
. Yoga class every morning
. Meditation class
At your disposal:
. A large classroom that can accommodate 20 people
. Meditation room
. Conference room for a group of 10 or fewer people
. Outdoor terrace to relax or eat away from the mosquitoes
. Several rest areas in nature
. Swimming
. Walking trails on our 108 acres of land
Winter Season:
. Cross-country skiing and snowshoe trail
. Fireplace
On-site professional services (extra):
. Massage, naturopathy, iridology,Yoga and fitness classes.

Creator, Storyteller Within RetreatsSacred Expression, Self-exploratory WritingCircle Facilitator, Storyteller, Word Lover, Poetically Curious Aimee chases big questions with butterfly nets, only to set them free again. She's always had an irresistible attraction to words and metaphors as a way of playing, provoking, revealing, exploring, understanding, and connecting. Fifteen years ago she began sneaking away from the office for creative writing classes at Central Saint Martins College while living in London, writing short stories and rekindling a childhood love for all things lyrical.On a quest for more meaningful plot in life, she left her corporate job in London years ago to travel. In 2012, her travels guided her to Guatemala and back to herself. Her intensive studies with an intuitive mentor who called her "the storyteller" and her own passion for human insight started her on an ever curious and unfolding journey into the nature of perception. Her work explores the power of the stories we tell within our lives and invites a creative and playful adventure in the yoga of perspective.Aimee works as a freelance writer, writes children stories, dances with the muse at poetry, and writes into tricky spaces. She holds a 200+ hr yoga teacher certification. She is inspired and humbled by witnessing how something raw and honest in the human spirit aches to open, when given the invitation. She began Storyteller Within retreats to share in the experience of exploring our humanity and stepping into our courage as women.Aimee is most moved by living in harmony with the mysterious sway of her heart towards whatever lights her up from within.For each retreat, Aimee brings in a highly experienced female yoga teacher who personally inspires her as well as guest facilitators for sacred ceremonies.

From a young age, Melanie has been fascinated by sacred stories and mythology. Through theater and literature studies, she discovered the evolution of cultures through art. Her calling to understand human’s psyche lead her to various fields from alternative healing therapies to psychology-astrology. She passionately taught Meditation and Astrology for eleven years at Las Piramides Meditation Center in Guatemala. She is currently living in Canada and offering Astrology consultations for individuals and couples, co-facilitating heart focused retreats and holding space for women circles. She is committed to support the expansion of intuition and preserve the knowledge of cycles. For Melanie, mythological stories are medicine. They bridge the eternal with the present, the personal with the universal and facilitate the meeting of the different parts of ourselves.May we let the stories move through us and let them whisper in the vulnerability of our hearts the treasures we long to recollect.

Thank you!

Why Retreat?

It would my first vacation in the mountains. I think getting away and beginning a new routine would be good for me and a friend.
Dianne

Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.